ALBANY, New York: New York fired over 2,000 prison guards this week for not returning to work after a weeks-long strike that disrupted the state's prison system. However, officials said enough guards came back to declare the strike over.

"After 22 days of an illegal strike, we can now say it has ended," said Commissioner Daniel Martuscello in a virtual press briefing.

The state and the guards' union made a deal to end the strike, requiring at least 85 percent of staff to return by Monday morning. While fewer than 85 percent returned, the state will still honor parts of the agreement, including overtime pay.

The National Guard will continue supporting prisons while officials work to hire more staff. Currently, about 10,000 security officers are available, down from 13,500 before the strike.

Martuscello confirmed that over 2,000 officers who remained on strike were fired. Officers and sergeants without approved medical leave who missed the 6:45 a.m. deadline were immediately terminated.

The strike began on February 17 as guards protested working conditions, forcing Governor Kathy Hochul to send in the National Guard. Inmates reported worsening conditions and a 22-year-old prisoner died at a facility near Utica. His death is under investigation.

The strike violated a state law that bans most public employees from walking off the job. Two earlier deals failed to bring enough guards back. The final agreement includes a temporary 90-day suspension of limits on solitary confinement and a shift to 12-hour workdays. Guards who returned by Monday will not face punishment for striking.

Several inmates have died since the strike began, but it is unclear if prison conditions played a role. A prosecutor is investigating the death of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility, where as many as nine officers may be involved. Fifteen prison staff members have been placed on leave.

This is the second criminal investigation into a prison death in recent months. In December, six guards were charged with murder in the death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility.